surge of migrants rushing towards the Afghan border ahead of the imminent deadline, causing an emergency situation
In a rapidly developing situation, the return of millions of Afghans from Iran is causing an acute humanitarian emergency at the Islam Qala border in western Herat province. Over 800,000 people have returned since January 2025, with a daily influx peaking at tens of thousands, as reported by the United Nations (UN).
The temporary reception camp at Islam Qala is struggling to accommodate the surge in arrivals. On July 1, many returnees were left outside the camp, unable to find shelter as gates remained locked due to safety concerns amid overcrowding and potential stampedes risking children’s lives.
Approximately 25% of the returnees are children, with around 80,000 Afghan children crossing in June alone, increasing child protection challenges in inadequate facilities. The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported a peak of more than 43,000 people crossing at Islam Qala on July 1.
Humanitarian organisations and Afghan authorities are urging for increased resources to prevent a deepening crisis. World Vision, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Save the Children, and UNICEF are among those engaged in emergency responses, focusing on child protection, shelter, and service gaps at the border. However, they highlight "heartbreaking" challenges and insufficient resources.
The UN migration agency IOM is ramping up water and sanitation systems, vaccinations, nutrition, and child-friendly spaces to accommodate the influx at Islam Qala, which was designed for 7-10,000 people a day. The agency reported that over 250,000 Afghans returned from Iran in June.
Iran had previously stated that undocumented Afghans must leave the country by July 6. The UN has urged countries not to forcibly return Afghans due to the current crisis situation. Aref Atayi, a 38-year-old Afghan, is currently waiting at an IOM-run reception centre for support to help his family resettle. He reported pressure from authorities in Iran, including arrest and deportation, forcing some Afghans to send their children out for basic necessities.
The UN has warned the influx could destabilise Afghanistan, already grappling with entrenched poverty, unemployment, and climate change-related shocks. UNICEF country representative Tajudeen Oyewale described the current situation as an "emergency" and a "chronic returnee crisis" for Afghanistan. The UN has called for urgent international support to address food, water, shelter, and health needs amid rising temperatures and strained local capacity.
Over 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June prior to the return deadline, with families crossing the border with minimal belongings and money. Massive foreign aid cuts have impacted the response to the crisis, with calls for more funding from the UN, international non-governmental groups, and Taliban officials to support the returnees. The situation at the border points has been labelled an "emergency" by the UN.
- Iran's deadline for the departure of undocumented Afghans triggered a political debate, with the UN urging countries not to forcibly return Afghans due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the Islam Qala border.
- Amid the general news of the acute humanitarian emergency, many non-governmental organizations, such as World Vision, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Save the Children, and UNICEF, have stepped up to provide education-and-self-development, shelter, and crime-and-justice protection for the returning Afghan children.
